The Ongoing Issue with Edinburgh's Plastic-Shrouded Hotel?

Along the most frequented avenues in the centre of Scotland's historic capital looms a giant structure of scaffolding.

For the past 60 months, the establishment on the junction of a key historic street and the adjacent bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Visitors find no available accommodations, walkers are funneled through narrow walkways, and commercial tenants have left the building.

Restoration efforts commenced in 2020 and was only expected to last a few months, but now frustrated residents have been told the scaffolding could remain until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the primary firm, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the frame can be dismantled.

The city's political leader a city representative has described it as a "eyesore" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is happening with this notoriously protracted project?

Background Issues

The 136-bedroom hotel was developed on the site of the previous Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Projections from when it initially debuted under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about thirty million pounds.

Construction activity got underway soon after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A section of the street and a significant portion of pavement leading up to the intersection of the tourist drag have been closed off by the project.

Walkers going to and from the a nearby area and a neighboring street have been forced in a line into a tight, enclosed passage.

An eatery a popular spot left the building and transferred to a different location in 2024.

In a comment, its management said building work had obliged them to change the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also hosts restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has hung large notices on the scaffold to notify customers it is operating as usual.

Missed Deadlines

An report to the council's transport and environment committee in the start of the year indicated that the process of "uncovering" the frontage would begin in February, with a complete dismantling by the year's end.

But SRM has said that is not the case, citing "extremely complex" construction issues for the delay.

"We expect starting to dismantle parts of the structure close to the conclusion of 2026, with additional work ongoing after that," a statement read.

"We are working closely with everyone involved to ensure we deliver an better site for the local area."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, director of conservation group the a local association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for construction projects.

She said those associated with the project had a "obligation to the public" to minimise disruption and should blend the work into the city's design.

She said: "It causes the experience for those on foot in that part of town very hard.

"It is puzzling why there is not some attempt to incorporate it within the street view or develop something more aesthetic and cutting-edge."

Project Response

A official statement said work on "ideas to enhance the appearance the site" was in progress.

They added: "We understand the annoyances felt by the community and businesses.

"This represents a long and drawn-out process, demonstrating the difficulty and size of the repair work required, however we are committed to finishing this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

The official said the council would "maintain pressure" on those involved to finish the project.

She said: "This framework has been a negative presence for years, and I understand the exasperation of inhabitants and local businesses over these ongoing postponements.

"That said, I also acknowledge that the company has a responsibility to make the building structurally sound and that this remediation has been extremely complicated."